MUS NITIDUS. 201 



Two specimens from Landour were considered by Mr. Blj-th as doubtfully 

 belonging to this race, being veiy like rvfescens, but with coarser and 

 sub- spinous fur of duller colouring. 



Blyth has a Mus rohustulus (J/, rufescens, variety olim) and J/, rattus, 

 brown variety olim, from Pegu and Tenasserim, the common house-rat 

 there, very like M. rufescens, but darker, less rufescent, and the tail about 

 ecpial to the head and body. A variety he described as J/. Berdmorei, with 

 peculiarly hispid fur ; and one specimen differed from the other in having 

 very dark upper parts, and very white lower parts, also smaller front 

 teeth. This specimen would appear to accord with Gray's desciiption of 

 a specimen of J/, niveiventer, "dark-brown, cutting-teeth narrow and 

 slender," of which Blyth remarks, probably not the same as the above 

 {niveiventer). 



182. Mus nitidus. 

 HoDGSOx. — Blyth, Cat. p. 116. 



The Shixing Brown Rat. 



Descr. — Dusky-brown above, dusky- hoaiy below; distinguished by its 

 smooth coat, wherein the long hairy piles are almost wanting ; short piles 

 cinereous below, with pale rufous tips ; long piles basally homy, apically 

 black. 



Length, head and body 6^ inches ; tail 1\ ; ears f ths ; palm y^^ths. 



Blyth states that one, of eight specimens, from Darjeeling has the lower 

 parts pure white, abruptly defined. They are especially distinguLshed 

 by the fineness and softness of the fur. Hodgson says that it is a house- 

 rat, and I procured several specimens of this rat at Darjeeling, mostly 

 in houses. 



Hodgson has another small rat, apparently of this group, Mus horeites. 

 " A small species \nih. fine pelage ; tail longer than head and body ; 

 colour above sordid brown, below sordid white. Length, head and body 

 4 inches ; tail 41 ; ears ^^ths ; palm ^ ; sole 1^." 



This has not been recognized by Mr. Blyth. 



183. Mus caudatior. 

 Hodgson apud Hoksfield. — J/, cinnamomeus, Blyth, Cat. p. 115. 



The Chestnut Rat. 

 Descr. — Above bright cinnamon or chebtnut-bi'own, with a rufous 



